From 27 to 28 October, at the invitation of the President Edgars Rinkēvičs, His Majesty King Frederik X and Her Majesty Queen Mary of Denmark paid a state visit to the Republic of Latvia. During the meeting at the Riga Castle, the discussions focused on bilateral relations, cooperation in the field of defence, security issues in the Baltic Sea region, as well as support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
President of Latvia expressed his gratitude to the Danish royal family for their personal contribution to strengthening relations between Denmark and Latvia. Denmark has supported Latvia at every significant historical moment. “We highly value Your Majesty’s personal interest in the history of the Baltic states and your active support for the restoration of their independence. Our two countries enjoy excellent relations based on a shared understanding and a mutual interest in the security and prosperity of our region,” said E. Rinkēvičs.
During the meeting, the President commended the close collaboration in the defence industry, as demonstrated by today’s Danish-Latvian Defence Industry Day, which has attracted significant interest from companies in both Denmark and Latvia. The discussion also underlined the considerable potential for cooperation in areas such as quantum science, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence. At the same time, President Rinkēvičs expressed satisfaction that, during the state visit of the Danish royal couple, two documents will be signed to promote closer cooperation in quantum science and defence.
The President expressed appreciation and gratitude for Denmark’s contribution to strengthening the security of Latvia and of NATO’s eastern flank. Together with Latvia, Denmark established and leads NATO Multinational Division North, which strengthens NATO’s collective deterrence and defence by providing a command and control element in the Baltic region. The Danish Armed Forces are also part of the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. “It is important to continue enhancing NATO’s defence and deterrence capabilities. This must be done as quickly as possible in response to the threats posed by Russia. Russia continues to expand its hybrid threats and deliberately target critical infrastructure across Europe. We must be ready to respond without delay and with determination, including to the threat posed by drones,” stated President Rinkēvičs.
President of Latvia highly valued Denmark’s comprehensive support for Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor, Russia. He reaffirmed that Latvia will continue to support Ukraine, including by allocating 0.25% of its GDP for military assistance. The President also confirmed Latvia’s readiness to work together with Denmark in the United Nations Security Council in 2026 to support Ukraine and defend the rules-based international order.
The Danish royal couple's state visit to Latvia will continue on 29 October with a visit to Ādaži. The President, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark will visit Ādaži High School, participate in a national defence training session, and visit the Ādaži military base.
